Safety device and method for swimming pool drain protection

• US 6,341,387 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2000
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leif Alexander Zars
• Original Assignee: Leif Alexander Zars
• Inventors: Zars, Leif Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US09/714,365
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 450/4, 450/7, 450/9, 454/11, 137/216.1
• US Class Current: 4/504
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/12 Devices or arrangements for circulating water , i.e. devices for removal of polluted water, cleaning baths or for water treatment

Abstract

The present invention entails a prefabricated safety device and method for installing the device in any swimming pool and that is capable of eliminating dangerous vacuum pressure created in the main drain line of a pool when an object or person becomes trapped against the drain or other suction line inlet of a swimming pool recirculating pump system. The vacuum elimination safety device is prefabricated and is a complete kit (unit) that can easily be installed directly onto the main drain suction line of any swimming pool recirculating pump system.

Claims

1. A prefabricated vacuum relief safety kit for preventing the entrapment of or harm to a swimmer at a suction outlet fitting in a swimming pool equipped with a pump for drawing water from the pool, the prefabricated vacuum relief safety kit comprising:

generally vertically disposed concentric pipes sized to provide a head of water sufficient to allow normal operation of a swimming pool pump;

generally horizontally disposed inlet and outlet connections for connecting to the drain line of a swimming pool;

an outlet exposed to the atmosphere to allow air to be drawn into the vertically disposed concentric pipes when the inlet is unable to draw water from a pool;

the vertical dimensions of the kit being predetermined by the desired built-in safe limitation of maximum suction by gravity generally limited to the pressure differential that can be attained by the fluid head;

and a marking device on the kit to indicate the elevation at which the kit is to be positioned according to the pool water level to provide proper operation of the prefabricated vacuum relief safety kit.

2. A prefabricated vacuum relief safety kit for a swimming pool as recited in claim 1 wherein the concentric pipes comprise a single external pipe and a single internal pipe.

3. A prefabricated vacuum relief safety kit for a swimming pool as recited in claim 1 wherein the concentric pipes comprise a single external pipe and at least two internal pipes.

6. A prefabricated vacuum relief safety kit for a swimming pool as recited in claim 1 wherein the vertically disposed pipes comprise a single external pipe and a single internal pipe.

7. A prefabricated vacuum relief safety kit for a swimming pool as recited in claim 1 wherein the vertically disposed pipes comprise a single external pipe and at least two internal pipes.

4. A method for preventing the entrapment of or injury to a swimmer at a suction outlet fitting in a swimming pool equipped with a pump for drawing water from the pool, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting a prefabricated vacuum relief safety kit having generally vertically disposed concentric pipes sized to provide a head of water sufficient to allow normal operation of a swimming pool pump and generally horizontally disposed inlet and outlet connections for connecting to the suction outlet fitting of a swimming pool and an outlet exposed to the atmosphere to allow air to be drawn into the vertically disposed concentric pipes when the inlet to the kit is unable to draw water from a pool with the dimensions of the kit being predetermined according to the vertical dimensions of the kit being predetermined by the desired built-in safe limitation of maximum suction by gravity generally limited to the pressure differential that can be attained by the fluid head; and

positioning a marking device on the kit which indicates the elevation at which the kit is to be positioned according to the pool water level to provide proper operation of the prefabricated vacuum relief safety kit.

5. A prefabricated vacuum relief safety kit for preventing the entrapment of or harm to a swimmer at a suction outlet fitting in a swimming pool equipped with a pump for drawing water from the pool, the prefabricated vacuum relief safety kit comprising:

generally vertically disposed pipes including a first pipe mounted within a second pipe and a flow space between the first and second pipes and sized to provide a head of fluid sufficient to allow normal operation of a swimming pool pump with the vertical dimensions of the kit being predetermined by the desired built-in safe limitation of maximum suction by gravity generally limited to the pressure differential that can be attained by the fluid head;

a generally horizontally disposed connection for connecting to the drain line of a swimming pool;

an outlet of the upper vertically disposed pipe exposed to the atmosphere to allow air to be drawn into the vertically disposed pipes when the drain line is unable to draw water from a pool to relieve the suction in the drain line.

8. A method for preventing the entrapment of or injury to a swimmer at a suction outlet fittings in a swimming pool equipped with a pump for drawing water from the pool, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting a prefabricated vacuum relief safety kit having generally vertically disposed inner and outer pipes sized to provide a head of fluid between the inner surface of the outer pipe and the inner surface of the inner pipe and sufficient to allow normal operation of a swimming pool pump with the vertical dimensions of the kit being predetermined by the desired built-in safe limitation of maximum suction by gravity generally limited to the pressure differential that can be attained by the fluid head;

connecting a generally horizontally disposed connection on the safety kit to the drain line of a swimming pool; and

exposing an outlet on one of the vertically disposed pipes to the atmosphere for allowing air to be drawn into the vertically disposed pipes when the drain line is unable to draw water from a pool to reduce the suction in the drain line.

9. A method for preventing the entrapment of or injury to a swimmer as recited in claim 8 wherein the vertically disposed pipes comprise a single external pipe and a single internal pipe.

10. A method for preventing the entrapment of or injury to a swimmer as recited in claim 8 wherein the vertically disposed pipes comprise a single external pipe and at least two internal pipes.